new w/ couple questions

[greaseball]

hello, new here. first off we have a 03 vue, 3.0 2 wheel drive. first question, is there a search option on this forum? just to save on unnecessary questions from me. next, has anyone been able to find a repair manual on the vue, if so where? and last (for now) some stuff i'm going to try to get done today. #1 we have a coolant leak, its flowing down the oil pan and dripping off that in the center. it appears to be from the firewall side of the engine, and i cant even see back there. any common problem known back there? i'm kinda thinking intake leak(anyone done one? doesn't look to bad) #2 i would like to change the trans fluid. is there no filter? and i was reading on here some issues with what fluid to use and what method to drain. it is a automatic. is there a drain plug or filter and what fluid?


fixes... so far: under warranty - front d.s. wheel bearing, rear control arms?
after warranty - stabilizer links, rear p.s. wheel bearing, front struts and mounts, rear wiper motor.

[VTchemist]

Welcome to the boards. You will find lots of info here. Some of us graduated from the school of hard knocks, so we hope you'll find answers to your questions here.

You can do more advancing searching (see the toolbar) for your specific vehicle and problem.

You should be able to find your requested info on tranny fluid changes. You are right: there is no "dipstick". Procedures are on the boards that will tell you how to change your fluid.

Sound like your coolant leak is not coming from the front of the engine (i.e. water pump). Did you check your heater hoses an other associated hoses that are near the firewall? How much coolant are you losing?

Folks more knowledgeable than I can help you out with more info on your 3.0L engine.

[greaseball]

not losing a lot but enough to not like it...i just crawled out from under it. like i said earlier, it is dripping from the rear, firewall side, of the oil pan, near the drain plug as well as the axle housing that is under the starter. that whole area of the engine has a shine to it and the oil pan bolts back there have some orange build up in them. i just can't see if its coming from the front, rear or middle of the engine. i'll have to gunk it down and watch it or do a pressure test. as far as the trans, i am not seeing any drain plug. can the oil cooler line block be removed from the engine side to drain fluid? looks like just one nut securing the block to the trans.

[ssicarman]

Coolant leak is likely the oil cooler housing cover located inbetween the two heads in the V of the engine. Possibely along with the thermostat housing oring leaking a bit and the coolant hose housing at the rear of the engine oring leaking leaking a bit as well.
If you have any coolant leaking at the front of the engine the water pump would be leaking as well or the about leaks are real bad.

The trans is "filled for life". The filter for the trans is internal. The fluid is changed by dropping the pan or getting it serviced by someone who has a trans flush machine that hooks up to the cooler lines and changes out all of the fluid instead of what drops out of the oil pan.
The trans mission is a normal GM 4T40-E or 4T45-E.